Which Toys Are The Best For Your Child’s Development?

Parents often think of toys as little more than expensive treats that keep kids active, entertained and out of trouble, but they can also help children develop in multiple ways. Proper educational toys can help children develop motor skills as well as cognitive and social skills that are important to physical, mental and emotional health.

Toys that involve physical activity help kids develop and improve motor skills. Through play with toys, children can learn co-ordination, balance and spacial awareness. Toys that involve stacking, pushing or pulling, jumping, running and throwing are a few examples that help children develop vital motor skills.

Toys that develop a child’s intuition, reasoning or perception enhance important cognitive skills. Any toy that helps children discover cause-and-effect relationships helps develop their cognitive skills. If a toy involves reading or writing, mathematics, shape sorting, paying attention and remembering, it will help with cognitive skill development.  

Any toy can help kids develop people skills by teaching them how to share with other children and adults. Learning how to take turns and engage in multi-player games can help kids learn important social skills, too. Simply learning that it’s fun to play with others is an important lesson toys can teach even very young kids.

One other way toys may help kids develop is by encouraging them to use their imaginations in fun, active and fulfilling ways. Toys that involve the use of creativity help children learn to enjoy using their imaginations. These are valuable skills that once learned, can help children in many ways as they grow.